Nani opened the scoring

By Chris,
January 21 2009

Manchester United booked their place at Wembley with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Derby County, securing a narrow aggregate win over the Championship side. The hosts raced into a 3-0 lead, before a superb late rally from Derby – including two goals from impressive substitute Giles Barnes – left the Reds clinging on for a place in the final.

Sir Alex Ferguson gambled by again giving some of his fringe and younger players a chance against the Rams.

County led 1-0 after dominating the first-leg - Kris Commons separating the two sides - but United had turned the tie on its head after only 34 minutes.

Nani opened the scoring after 16 minutes with a simply sublime long-range effort. The Portuguese winger surged forward from the half-way line and sent a superb, long-range effort beyond ex-Red Roy Carroll.

The lead was doubled six minutes later as slack defending from Nigel Clough's men gave John O'Shea an unusual opportunity in front of goal - the Irishman breaking the offside trap before slotting a calm finish home.

The tie looked beyond reasonable doubt shortly after the half-hour mark as Tevez met Rafael Da Silva's cross with a fine header - but Derby, to their credit, were to launch an impressive second-half comeback that put them within a whisker of booking an unlikely trip to Wembley.

Derby looked considerably more dangerous after the break and Ben Foster suddenly found himself called into action. Rob Hulse missed from yards out, whilst Paul Green sent a volley wide.

The Rams got back into the tie with ten minutes to go after Jonny Evans clipped Green and Mike Dean showed little hesitation in awarding a spot-kick. Barnes, who had come off the bench just twelve minutes earlier, dispatched the spot-kick and suddenly it was game on.

United's panic looked to be over minute later as Carroll brutally dragged down Tevez and substitute Cristiano Ronaldo fired home from twelve yards - Though his penalty-kick was inches away from the Derby stopper's outstretched hand. United's two-goal aggregate lead was restored.

However, there was another twist in the tail as Barnes fired home a superb long-range free-kick at the death. Derby were a goal away from claiming extra-time and the advantage of away goals - but United held on and Sir Alex can look forward to another trip to Wembley.

The evening had a bitter-sweet taste for Fergie, however, with the United team resembling the walking-wounded at the end. Nani, Anderson, Evans, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Da Silva carrying knocks.

Nevertheless, the "mission impossible" of winning all five major trophies is still on. Well done Reds.

Full Time - Manchester United 4-2 Derby County
(United win 4-3 on aggregate)
Attendance - 73,374